Hostess says snack cake demand hits new highs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Hostess Brands says demand for Twinkies and CupCakes is at a record high since the snack cakes returned
to shelves less than three days ago.

The treats disappeared from shelves almost eight months ago when the predecessor company that made them shut down its plants
and said that it was going out of business. The cakes are back under new ownership.

The Twinkies are a bit smaller than before, but that hasn't shrunk their popularity.

Hostess says sales of its products are seven times greater than historic levels. Orders are three to six times greater than
its production capacity, even though it is running bakeries at maximum levels.

Numerous retailers told Hostess this week that they had sold out of the snack cakes within hours of them being displayed.